Deaerating apparatus



1952 J. M. KAHN 2,580,791

DEAERATING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1950 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. Q N jamafifiiffa/zrz,

Patented fan. 1, 1952 UNITED PATENT optics;

Janies'Mz KaiinyGlc'ncoe, Ill.) assi'gnor to Ihfiloq Incorporated;- Chicago; 111., a, corporation of- Delaware deaerator' of this" type which is inexpensive" i'n construction and simple and automatic in operatioii.

Another objeot is to provide a" multipas's deaerator which is free of moving partsand ofsbla shtrays.

Another obj ect ofthe" invention is to provide adeaerator arranged to minimize'the-los's' of he'ad through the'deaerator':

Another object is'to provide adeaerat'or with an integral storage compartment:

v Another object isto* provide a deaerating' ap-' paratus whereinshort-circuiting' is' preven'tedi Other obj acts of 1 the invention wil-l become a p parentupon considerationot the-detailed descrip-- tion' and the claims whichfollow;

My invention-- is particularly suitable for deaerating boiler feed water where low pressure steam -for operating the apparatus is available. Howe'ver the invention not limitedto' this s ecific applicationg-but wi1-1-be==useu1= whereverit desired l remove dissolvedgases i from a liquid by-heating with steam.

Deaera'tirigl apparatus of the Ii tyiie referred to herein op'erate on the -'-princip1e that -the capacity off water to hold loxygen in' 'so1utioii-decreases asthe-temperature I of the water increases;- and th'at in order 'toremove last traces 'ofloxygen agitationis essential; Various forms of apparatus-have. been proposed for: carrying out'thisgeneral prin ciple. Usually the water-is first heated to -atmperature approximating that of the steam-used by spraying :the water: through a' steam atmosphere in a. 'prima'ryiheating. chamber; and 'thereafter thc heated waten isvzagitated in variou's ma'nn'ers bya'splashingtthe water on trays; or by atomizing the water with steam :jets; or by a combination of these methods. Such agitationlas' splashing or atomizing necessitates eom'plicated and expensive: internal structure and involves a considerable: loss of head. It isazspecial objectaof mylinvention ;toprovide a-de'aerati-ng apparatus? which:- providesathe necessary agitation by" simpler means" than were heretofore used for this purpose.

I have found a that I can i deaerate lwaterwithout splashing or atomizin'g by providing a'multiple Pass steam-liftnirculation of: the water 'in the" deaerationz zone, I: am -fawarethat steamelift: circulation has previously been suggested.- for deaeration. However, such a circulation was not elieved ssumcient-in and; by itself; endows-"combined with splashing over series of trays in a conveiitipnaijare e 'deaeiratoi; and" time ubieet t2; the disadva tag'ee. tated abo e. T is comnotationwa we rtafitjifi a paratus or the attwnicn lacked?fibs'itiv'means'fioi" preve g shbrt ciiciiiti of the water to the" outlet prior to itsino poraitio'i ttnefsteaiiil cvide such positiv I bie" for any port it ijsjfalsof necessary to providewdequat storage fac esfortne ea-erated Water; obviously, the deaeraitor" e usedwith'. a s'ef'parate sto'rag'e tank; wever; irr 2: preferred form"? of; my-ce: aeratortheetorge t 11: is inteigralwiththe de:

aerator; thdstand co n A aera or being within-"thestora'igeftaifli and having an" overflow"t6"the"'storag' tank pro) construction is 'a'dvan-t'ajgeousas it keep the-loss 01f hea'd t O' 'ai predetermined n iiri" However, the storage tank could' -als'o -b'e--arran ed tvithir'i' the? treating tank, in the manner" shownfora-- conihii'ie'cl wate' treatirig and degasifyiiigf apfiaratus'in a copendifig'a' l cation-(Jewele n; Green' ahd James Karim-swarm: 20, 548; Cirtlina'r-il31 Howvefl-tii tie tame-0f a deaeretbr is teem-imam. 015 n gang th storage- 'b' softerid a'hdideierfited and th'e condena ,m new deaerttor-andits storag *chani'benmay beinsteHed in the deaera tingsoftenerZ Thef'in'ventiori will be unore' readily understobd' byireference to the drawings; wherein:-

ardeaerator accordingtoatheiinvention;

Figure? shows ai'vertioalcross-sectional view o'f adeaerator-similarl to that of -F'i'gur'e 1i: but wi'th v an integrai sto'fa'ge tank; and

. Figure *si'shows'a vertical cr6ss+sect1ona1view ofa condensate deaeratoi- 'within a hot process softeners-rdaeiatorl n The deae'rating' ap aratusof Figure 1 com"- within the tank l0 into an upper chamber 2| and a lower chamber 22. An inlet conduit 23 for liquid to be treated passes through the vent condenser and then enters chamber 2| discharging through a sprayhead 24.

A partition structure 30, is axially aligned in the tank ID. The partition structure 30 comprises an inner tube 3| and an outer tube 32. The inner tube 3| has a lower flaring or hood-shaped end 33 spaced above the bottom H, and extends to an elevation adjacent the partition 20. The outer tube 32 surrounds the upper portion of the inner tube and extends through the partition 23 into the upper chamber 2| to an elevation above the liquid outlet from said chamber. A baflle 35 is provided above and around the upper end of the outer tube 32 to prevent heated water from the primary heating compartment to discharge into the steam separating from the deaerated water in the outer tube 32.

A steam inlet 40 discharges to the space enclosed by the inner tube 3|. An outlet conduit 4| leads from the lower portion of the upper chamber 2| into the lower chamber 22 and discharges also to the space enclosed by the inner tube 3|. Deaerated liquid is withdrawn from the lower chamber through an outlet conduit 42 leading from a launder 43 which may be arranged peripherally, or centrally, as shown. The weir edge 44 of the launder 43 establishes the normal liquid level in the lower chamber 22.

The structure described above provides an upper or primary heating chamber, a lower steamlift deaerating chamber, a passageway for a steam-lift supported circulation in the lower chamber including an inner upflow section, an

outer downflow section, and an overflow from the inner to the outer section, and an outlet for steam from said passageway to the upper chamber. The water inlet into the lower chamber and the inlet for operating steam discharge into the 1 upflow section of said passageway.

The operation of the deaerating apparatus will be readily understood. Steam under suitable pressure, such as five pounds, discharged through steam inlet 40, into the lower chamber 22 where a pressure of about 2 to 3 pounds prevails, expands, liberating energy. The water into which the steam discharges has already been heated in the upper heating chamber 2| to approximately the temperature of the incoming steam. Therefore, practically no heat transfer takes place and the entire energy liberated by the expansion of the steam is available for pumping power. This energy supports a multiple pass circulation of the liquid upwardly through the inner tube 3| and downwardly through the outer tube 32. The specific gravity of the mixture of steam and water in the inner tube isless than that of water alone; therefore the energy liberated by the expansion of the steam is suflicient to provide a large number of recirculations. Due to the scrubbing action of the steam and water during this circulation gases are liberated. Steam and liberated gases separate from the liquid overflowing the upper edge of the inner tube 3| and pass upwardly through the upper portion of the outer tube 32 and escape into the upper chamber 2|. The baflle 35 deflects the steam and gases and distributes them laterally over the cross-sectional area of the chamber 2|, and also prevents water in the upper chamber from entering the tube 32. The steam rising in chamber 2| is condensed by the water sprayed into the chamber, heating the water to a temperature approximating that of the steam. A major part of the gases dissolved in the water are liberated by the increase in temperature of the water. The non-condensable gases and any steam that is not condensed rise to the vent l4 from where they are conducted either directly, or, as shown, through the vent condenser [5 to atmosphere.

The preheated and partially deaerated water passes from the upper chamber 2| to the lower chamber 22 through the conduit 4| which dis charges into the lower portion of the inner tube 3|. Thus the water is immediately mixed with the steam entering through steam inlet 40 and is picked up by, and incorporated in, the steam-lift supported circulation through the inner and outer tubes. It will be noted that in my apparatus the water can enter the lower chamber only through conduit 4|. Due to this construc-- tion any danger of water reaching the outlet 42 before it has gone at least once through the steam-lift circulation is excluded. Ordinarily, however, the water willpass many times through the circulation before it is discharged from the apparatus.

In case the inflow of water through the inlet conduit 23 stops for any reason, the circulation stops automatically, as under such conditions the pressure in the upper chamber 2| plus the hydrostatic head equals the pressure of the incoming steam.

Figure 2 shows a deaerator with an integral storage tank 5|]. The storage tank 50 is preferably a horizontal cylinder. In this embodiment of the in.ention the upper chamber 2 la is mounted on the storage tank 50, as shown, the wall 5| or the storage tank providing the bottom 20a of the chamber. Within the storage tank 50 is a partial partition 55 forming the outer wall of the lower chamber 22a. The partial partition 55 provides an overflow from the deaerating chamber 22a which determines the liquid level therein. An outlet conduit 56 leads from the storage tank 50.

-The partition structure 30a of this embodiment is practically identical with the partition structure 30 of Figure 1. The upper part of the cylindrical wall of the storage tank 50 is apertured to receive the upper end portion of the outer tube 32a which extends therethrough into the upper chamber 2|a. The flared lower end 3301. of the inner tube 31a is spaced above the lower part of the cylindrical wall 5| of the storage tank 50 and its upper end is at an elevation adjacent but below the upper part of the wall 5|. The steam inlet conduit 40a enters the lower chamber through the lower part of wall 5|. The outlet conduit 4|a leads from the lower portion of chamber 2|a through the upper part of wall 5| into the lower chamber 22a and discharges into the lower portion of the inner tube 3|a. The inlet conduit 23a, spray 24a, vent Ma, and vent condenser |5a are the same as in Figure 1.

To equalize the pressures in the upper chamber and in the storage tank a pipe 51 is provided as shown.

The liquid level in the storage tank 50 may be controlled by any conventional means, such as a float-controlled inlet valve 58 on the inlet conduit 23a.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is the same as described in connection with Figure 1 except that the deaerated water.

In Figure 3 a condensate deaerator is arranged assures in the upper portiomof a deaeratingrhot': process softener. The softener shown: in; Figure: 3- for purposes of exempliflcation and illustration: is: of the type: described in. said copendingr application of Walter. H. Greenand James M- Kahn, Serial No. 20,548. Briefly, in such. an: apparatus, the raw water to be softened and deaeratedis prel'i'eatedby steam in aheatingrchamber 61 in the top portio'n: of the tank to and is then. discharged through a conduit 63: tov the space underahood 64' where it is mixed. with haronessprecipitating.

chemicals and a: slurry-comprising water under;- going' treatment and suspended. particles preecipitated in, and accumulated: from, previously treated water. Steam discharged below the hood 64 causes a steam-lift supported circulation of the slurry through the tubes 65 and 66. During this circulation the chemical reactions and the tie-aeration o1 tne water are completed. An output portion of treated liquid separates from the downwardly flowing slurry discharged from the outer tube and rises in the clarification chamber 61 to the overflow edge of thestorage compartment68 from. where it. is. withdrawn through an outlet-conduit. E9. The. deaerating hot process softener described .above isnotclaimed herein.

With such an apparatus it is desirable to provide separate deaerating means for condensate which does not need softening and therefore should not be treated along with the raw water in the deaerating softener. Such a condensate deaerator and its storage compartment may conveniently be located in the upper part of the deaerating softener in the space which is not occupied by the heating chamber 6|.

The condensate deaerator 10 is enclosed by an upper portion 62 of the wall of tank 60, a floor H, a part of the top 12 of the tank 60, and a wall structure comprising an upper wall 15 extending downwardly from the top 12 and a lower wall 16 extending upwardly from the floor H to an elevation slightly above the lower end of the upper wall, as shown, whereby an outlet passageway 18 for deaerated condensate is formed between the overlapping ends of the walls 15 and 16.

The partition 20b which separates the lower chamber 221) from the preheating chamber Zlb extends across the deaerator at the elevation of the lower end of the upper wall 15. As in the other embodiments, a partition structure 3% is axially aligned in the deaerator, the outer tube 32b extending through the partition 20b into the upper chamber to provide a steam and gas outlet from the steam lift passageway into the upper chamber. Water preheated in the upper chamber, and operating steam are discharged to the inner tube 3lb through conduits Mb and 40b,

respectively.

In this embodiment the vent condenser [b is shown as extending through the top i2 into the upper chamber, surrounding the condensate inlet 23b. I

A condensate storage compartment 59b provided with an outlet 56b is located between the heating chamber BI and the condensate deaerator.

The pressure in the condensate deaerator may be lower than the pressure in the condensate storage chamber and the softener. To balance this pressure difference and to prevent steam from entering the condensate deaerator through passageway 18, a battle 80 is provided whose lower end is submerged in the condensate in storage compartment 591; and whose upper end is above as theelevatiom oftheoverflow edge of loweriwall T6; The baflle deflects the deaerated con densate leaving-the lower chamber 22o through the passageway 18 and? directs it downwardly;

The head; of the column of water-between the maximum water. levelin the storage compart' ment-59b andthe upper end of the baifletilmust balance the predetermined maximum: difference between the pressures: pr'evaiimg' inside and: outside the condensate. deaerator:

It is impor't'antin an apparatus of this; type that the liquid level in the: lower chamber-beoonstant so that the'steam lift operates against a-constant head. This is obtained-in simple manner'in all embodiments of -theinvention by: providihgan over-flow for the treat'ed liquid.

- Manymodifications ofi the embodiments shown and described for purposes: of illustration maybe made without departing from the spirit. and scope of the: invention; Accordingly, I- do not wish to limit myself to the exactdetails of these embodiments.

Iclai'm:

1. Apparatus for deaerating water comprising wallmeans forming an upper heating chamber and a lower deaerating: chamber separated from each other; means for introducing water to be treated into said upper chamber, a vent from said upper chamber, a partition structure comprising an inner tube having a lower end spaced above the bottom of said lower chamber and having an overflow, and an outer tube surrounding the upper portion of said inner tube and extending into said upper chamber to an elevation above said overflow, a conduit leading fromthe upper chamber and discharging to said inner tube, a steam inlet discharging to said inner tube, and an outlet for deaerated water from said lower chamber, said outlet establishing the liquid level in said lower chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also a baiiie spaced above the upper end of said outer tube in said upper chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including also a storage chamber for deaerated water, said outlet for deaerated water from said lower chamber being an overflow to said storage chamber, and an outlet from said storage chamber.

4. Apparatus of the type described comprising a deaerated water storage tank, a wall extending from the bottom of said storage tank to an elevation spaced below its top and separating in said storage tank, a central deaerating chamber from an outer storage compartment, the top edge of said wall providing an overflow from said deaerating chamber to said storage compartment, a heating chamber mounted on the top of said storage tank, inlet means for introducing water to be treated into said heating chamber including a spray head in said heating chamber, a vent leading from said heating chamber, a vertically extending inner tube centrally located in said deaerating chamber, an outer tube sur rounding the upper portion of said inner tube and extending through the top of said storage tank into said heating chamber, a conduit leading from the lower portion of said heating cham ber through the top of said storage tank and discharging to said inner tube, means for introducing steam into said inner tube, and an outlet for deaerated water from said storage tank.

5. Apparatus for deaerating liquid comprising a closed heating chamber having an inlet for liquid to be treated, a deaerating chamber subiacent said heating chamber, vertically extending partition means in said deaerating chamber spaced above the bottom thereof and forming a passageway for a steam lift supported circulation having an inner upflow section leading from the lower portion of said deaerating chamber to its upper portion, an outer downfiow section surrounding said upflow section and leading from the upper to the lower portion of said deaerating chamber, an overflow from said inner section to said outer section, and a steam outlet from said outer section in open communication with said heating chamber at an elevation spaced above said overflow, a steam inlet discharging to said passageway, a liquid conduit leading from said heating chamber into said deaerating chamber and discharging to said passageway, a vent from said heating chamber, and an outlet for deaerated liquid from said deaerating chamber and establishing the normal liquid level therein.

6. Apparatus of the type described comprising wall means forming an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated from each other, inlet means for water to be treated into the upper chamber, a conduit leading from the upper chamber and discharging in. the lower portion of the lower chamber, a steam inlet discharging adjacent said conduit, an inner tube and an outer tube in said lower chamber, said inner tube having an overflow to said outer tube, said outer tube extending into said upper chamber to provide a passageway for steam from the lower chamber into the upper chamber, said inner tube receiving the discharge of said conduit and 0! said steam inlet, an overflow from said lower chamber, and a vent from said upper chamber.

I. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said outlet for deaerated water includes also a baflle extending from an elevation above said overflow to adjacent the bottom of said storage chamber and deflecting the water from said overflow downwardly.

JAMES M. KAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,083,740 Hodges Jan. 6, 1914 1,464,918 Andrews Aug. 14, 1923 1,741,519 Hufl Dec. 31, 1929 

